Veteran musicians and up-and-coming stars will play fundraising concert April 28
By Samantha Bambino
The Times
There’s something to be said about a man whose legacy lives on even after he’s gone. A force to be reckoned with in the local music scene, Danny “Rio” DeGennaro was an inspiration and mentor to many during his reign as guitarist of the band Kingfish. So when the news came in December 2011 of DeGennaro’s fatal shooting within his Levittown home, the hearts of friends, family and fans were shattered.
Though still mourning his death, a group of those closest to the artist decided his passion for guiding the next generation of musicians needed to live on. In 2014, they established the Danny DeGennaro Foundation, a nonprofit that assists young artists with the support they need to follow their dreams through scholarships and mentoring services.
On Saturday, April 28, veteran rockers, local bands and up-and-coming musicians will join forces for Talent Night, a DDF fundraising benefit concert at World Cafe Live in Philadelphia, with proceeds going toward music and art scholarships for Bucks County Community College students. Slated to perform are a number of DeGennaro’s talented friends, including Rock & Roll Hall of Famer Michael “Kidd Funkadelic” Hampton of Bucks County.
“Danny D is a musician I jammed with near the end of his life,” Hampton said. “He had a groove of inspiring musicians in a very special way.”
Johnny Webb, lead singer of rock band All Lit Up, shared a similar sentiment. Webb, of Levittown, said DeGennaro inspired him to play music, just as the DDF inspires up-and-coming musicians today.
“I met Danny at a very young age. He was my idol. I looked up to him so much. He was like God to me with the guitar and flawless vocals,” Webb said.
At the benefit concert, his high-energy band All Lit Up, which is comprised of members from Bucks and Montgomery counties and Manayunk, will play covers of Guns N’ Roses, Aerosmith, Lynyrd Skynyrd and more.
“We put a lot into the audience, making people feel like they’re a part of it,” Webb said. “You can tell we’re having fun up there.”
Webb also plans to dedicate a special song to DeGennaro.
“Danny was one-of-a-kind to me,” he said. “When I saw Danny for the first time sing and play, really it was a magical thing. He was like a walking jukebox. He could play any kind of song.”
Also part of the evening’s lineup is Grateful Dead cover band Steal Your Face, which will pay homage to DeGennaro’s Grateful Dead spinoff band Kingfish. Alongside these longtime musicians, several Bucks County Community College students will perform onstage, including Emma Spies, Katelyn Cryan and Alexa Korogodsky. Each are DDF scholarship award winners. Though none had the opportunity to meet DeGennaro, all can appreciate the legacy he left behind.
Spies, a 20-year-old from Upper Bucks County, was the 2016 scholarship winner. Though she wasn’t a music major, studying communications instead, Spies had an undeniable passion and talent the DDF believed to be deserving of the award. Looking back, she explained how grateful she was to be chosen given the large pool of talent in the area. She’s also thrilled the foundation asked her to perform at World Cafe Live, giving her a chance to show how she’s grown as a musician since 2016.
“They get to see where the musicians are now that were chosen,” she said.
Over the past few weeks, Spies has been working with foundation mentor Johnny Betz, one of the last people to play with DeGennaro at the Logan Inn in New Hope. Though he never chose to pursue a career as a professional musician, currently working as an RN, Betz has spent a lifetime recording and performing in the area. He also had the pleasure of calling DeGennaro a friend at only 15 years old.
Because of his longtime camaraderie with DeGennaro, and experience mentoring potential high school dropouts during some time spent in Florida, the DDF invited him to aid its scholarship winners in crafting songs and honing their musical abilities. Betz also worked with Cryan, the 2017 scholarship winner who hails from Yardley.
“She has the instincts of a seasoned professional,” Betz said.
Cryan tested the creative waters at 11 years old with piano lessons, but it wasn’t until 16 when she picked up the bass. A music major at BCCC, Cryan applied for the DDF scholarship by performing the DeGennaro original Time is Right on bass, and has been reaping the benefits ever since. According to Cryan, the award not only helped her financially, but also professionally thanks to her mentorship with Betz. “I’m so grateful to the foundation for everything they’ve done for me,” she said. ••
If you go…
The Danny DeGennaro Foundation’s Talent Night will be held Saturday, April 28, at World Cafe Live, 3025 Walnut St. in Philadelphia. Doors open at 8 p.m. and the show begins at 9. Tickets cost $15 and are available at worldcafelive.com/event/1587122-talent-night-world-cafe-live-philadelphia. The foundation is chartering two buses to the concert, one leaving from Sparky’s World Famous Bar, 4333 New Falls Road in Levittown, and one from Road House Bar & Grill, 2200 New Falls Road. Space is limited. To reserve a seat on the bus, call 215–788–4873 or 215–805–2965. For information, visit dannydegennaro.org.
Samantha Bambino can be reached at [email protected]
